Snyder's last hours and a 2023 Women's World Cup Preview
The Thursday morning edition of "Two things to know before 2 AM" is live!
It’s been a while since my last post. Since last Monday (July 10), we have had a first-time Wimbledon champ (Carlos Alcaraz) dethroning a legend (Novak Djokovic); a star wide receiver (DeAndre Hopkins) signing with an AFC team (Tennessee Titans); an Irish golfer (Rory McIlroy) winning The Scottish Open; and Steph Curry nailing a hole-in-one in this past weekend’s celebrity American Century Championship golf tournament (what can he not do?).
After a week-plus of no Snippets, I will have back-to-back editions. I will return with this week’s MLB Power Rankings tomorrow - and that could potentially be my last MLB Power Rankings this year (I will explain in tomorrow’s edition).
Now, to the more-pressing news; we may finally have closure on a infamous two-decade era in Washington D.C. sports, and a preview of the best tournament in July (sorry, Wimbledon!) that kicked-off at the wee early hour of 3 a.m. EST earlier this morning.
1) The last of Dan Snyder as owner is here
First up is the story of Dan Snyder’s ousting. If you have not been following the news in and around the formerly-named Washington Football Team, today is the day all 30 owners will come together and vote whether or not Dan Snyder, the owner of the franchise since 1999, should be formally removed from his position.
It’s unofficially official that Snyder will not return to the organization. He has put his Virginia home on the market, and is currently in his ‘other’ home in England. The new majority co-owners Josh Harris, Magic Johnson and others have already formally submitted their offer to buy the Washington Commanders, and that has been approved. There was some legal hurdles regarding Snyder, but that was cleared earlier this week.
The list of Dan Snyder incidents since taking over ownership duties in 1999 is longer than the merchandise line at a Taylor Swift concert, but some of the despicable off-the-field scenes include his staffers confiscating his own team’s cheerleaders’ passports while they were abroad taking photographs for the annual cheerleader calendars, as well as the multitude of misogynistic actions and behaviors towards female staffers.
That does not include the failings on-the-field, such as signing defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to a $100 million contract in 2009 (and him promptly unable to complete simple off-season drills and a massive liability that ensuing season) and signing a bingo caller to be among three offensive coordinators during the Jim Zorn head coaching era that same season. The organization also butchered signing current stars in quarterback Kirk Cousins and left tackle Trent Williams to long-term deals, and both have blossomed on their second teams (the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers).
All that is left for Snyder’s removal is the owners’ vote, which will take place sometime today. Euphoria will be in the air for the first time for us, Commanders fans, in my lifetime in and around the greater Washington D.C. area once everything is confirmed.
The celebration is already set, as The Josh Harris Group is already orchestrating a “Washington Commanders Training Camp Pep Rally” set at FedEx Field on Friday, starting at 1 p.m. EST on Friday. The only blemish is that the Rally is invite-only.
2) 2023 Women’s World Cup soccer/futbol Preview
By the time you are reading this, the first two games of The Women’s World Cup are over, as host nations New Zealand and Australia took on Norway and Ireland. Nevertheless, I will be presenting you all with a comprehensive preview for the World Cup taking place in the ‘Land Down Under.’
The defending two-time champions, Team USA, are still the team to beat, with a deeper roster than ever before. Their reserves would be definite starters on any other nation’s team. However, the European nations of Germany (FIFA ranking: 2), Sweden (3), England (4), France (5) and Spain (6) are nipping at the champs’ heels.
ESPN recently published a top-25 World Cup players to watch earlier this week. Only two Americans (Alex Morgan at #10 and Sophia Smith at #3) are present, but each of the other five European nations have two players each, with Spain’s Alexia Putellas (#4 and a back-to-back Ballon d’Or winner for best women’s soccer player) and Aitana Bonmati (#2) leading the pack.
I will be going over group-by-group, giving my overall thoughts and my two winners of each group. I will also predict who will reach the knockout stage and the World Cup Final teams and victor.
Note: The number within the parenthesis is the official FIFA ranking
Group A
Norway (12) | Switzerland (20) | New Zealand (26) | Philippines (46)
‘The Football Girls’ (Norway) seem like the heavy favorites to win Group A, as they only once have failed to qualify for the knockout stage (2011), and have one of the best wingers in the tournament in Caroline Graham Hansen. Switzerland escapes as the best of the three other Group A teams.
Game to watch: Norway vs. Switzerland | Tuesday, July 25, at 4 a.m. EST
Group A winner: Norway
Group A runner-up: Switzerland
Group B
Canada (7) | Australia (10) | Republic of Ireland (22) | Nigeria (40)
Women’s world powers Canada and Australia both boast two legendary futbol/soccer players in forward Christine Sinclair (40 years old) and striker Sam Kerr (29 years old). Kerr is the face of not only ‘The Matildas,’ but of this entire World Cup, as she has phenomenal all-around talent and capability to become this year’s Golden Boot winner (most goals). I would be quite stunned if either Canada and/or Australia failed to move-on to the knockout stage. However, it’s a coin flip as to who will emerge as the Group B winner.
Game to watch: Australia vs. Canada | Monday, July 31, at 6 a.m. EST
Group B winner: Australia
Group B runner-up: Canada
Group C
Spain (6) | Japan (11) | Costa Rica (36) | Zambia (77)
I already stated that Spain has two of the top players in this World Cup - that should carry ‘La Roja’ to at least the quarterfinals, with the potential of winning it all. Like Group A, Japan is this group’s second-best team, by a decent margin. However, the second place finisher potentially has a date with Team USA in the knockout rounds, which makes the Spain-Japan match at 3 a.m. EST on Monday, July 31 all the more intriguing.
Game to watch: Spain vs. Japan | Monday, July 31, at 3 a.m. EST
Group C winner: Spain
Group C runner-up: Japan
Group D
England (4) | Denmark (13) | China (14) | Haiti (53)
England, with the bevy of elite athletes across the board, such as Lauren James, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo, have a chance to cruise into the knockout stages. The battle will be between Denmark and China; my (fake) money is on China to advance, thanks to their skill on their front line. Also, history is on China’s side, as they have make the knockout stage in all seven prior World Cup appearances; Denmark’s last qualification was back in 1995.
Game to watch: England vs. Denmark | Friday, July 28, at 4:30 a.m. EST
Group D winner: England
Group D runner-up: China
Group E
USA (1) | Netherlands (9) | Portugal (21) | Vietnam (32)
The difference between the 2019 and this year’s version of Team USA: depth and the rise of the young superstars (14 players making their first WC appearance!) to take over the aging ones. Megan Rapinoe has said this is her last World Cup, and others (goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, defenders Crystal Dunn and Kelley O’Hara, midfielders Julie Ertz and Kristie Mewis and forwards Alex Moran and Rapinoe) are all 30-plus years old. Young, rising superstar forwards in 18-year old Alyssa Thompson and 21-year old Trinity Rodman are looking to make their mark in the World Cup. The main issue holding Team USA from hoisting their third straight title is injuries (captain Becky Sauerbrunn suffered a foot injury last month with her NWSL team and will miss the World Cup) and that some players (like Dunn) will be playing out-of-position.
As for the rest of Group E - Netherlands should advance to the knockout stage. They have 31-year old midfielder Danielle van de Donk, who has international experience to carry the Oranje.
Game to watch: Team USA vs. Netherlands | Thursday, July 27, at 9 p.m. EST
Group E winner: Team USA
Group E runner-up: Netherlands
Group F
France (5) | Brazil (8) | Jamaica (43) | Panama (52)
The third group to have two top-10 FIFA-ranked teams, both France and Brazil, should see both progress to the knockout stage. Like Group B, the seeding between the two elite squads will be determined by these head-to-head matches in the forthcoming weeks. Les Blues have the dynamic 34-year old forward Eugenie Le Sommer, and Brazil still is led by 37-year old Marta, who will also be playing in her last World Cup. Fun fact is that Brazil’s head coach is the former Team USA coach in Pia Sundhage (2007-2012), who won the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but lost the 2011 World Cup to Japan in penalty kicks.
Game to watch: France vs. Brazil | Saturday, July 29, at 6 a.m. EST
Group F winner: France
Group F runner-up: Brazil
Group G
Sweden (3) | Italy (16) | Argentina (28) | South Africa (54)
Sweden has always had an elite squad, as they have qualified for all nine World Cups since the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991, and have the fourth-most wins all-time in World Cup play (only USA, Germany and Norway are better). This year, they are led by 29-year old attacking forward Fridolina Rolfo, who had eight goals and four assists in 19 starts for FC Barcelona. After Sweden, we have a hodge-podge of lackluster teams. Take your pick among Italy (third WC appearance); Argentina (3rd WC); and South Africa (1st WC), with the latter two not winning a single World Cup match in their histories. Coin flip goes to Italy with the experience, but I doubt they go far in the knockout stage.
Game to watch: Sweden vs. Italy | Saturday, July 29, at 3:30 a.m. EST
Group G winner: Sweden
Group G runner-up: Italy
Group H
Germany (2) | South Korea (17) | Colombia (25) | Morocco (72)
Germany will be one of the elite squads predicted to hoist the World Cup trophy next month, especially with 32-year old forward Alexandra Popp leading the European team. They should cruise to the quarterfinals at the worst, as anything less would be considered a failure. Both Colombia and South Korea are good, but not great squads, as the former did not qualify for the 2019 WC, and the latter only has one WC win and only six total goals in its history.
Game to watch: Germany vs. Colombia | Sunday, July 30, at 5:30 a.m. EST
Group H winner: Germany
Group H runner-up: Colombia
Knockout Stage
Round of 16
Japan defeats Norway
Team USA defeats Italy
Spain defeats Switzerland
Sweden defeats Netherlands
Australia defeats China
France defeats Colombia
England defeats Canada
Germany defeats Brazil
Game to watch: England vs. Canada | Sunday, August 7, at 6:30 a.m. EST
Quarterfinals
Team USA defeats Japan
Spain defeats Sweden
Australia defeats France
England defeats Germany
Games to watch:
Australia vs. France | Friday, August 12, at 3 a.m. EST
England vs. Germany | Friday, August 12, at 6:30 a.m. EST
Semifinals
Spain defeats Team USA
Australia defeats England
Game to watch: Spain vs. Team USA | Monday, August 15, at 4 a.m. EST
Championship: Saturday, August 20, at 6 a.m. EST
Spain defeats Australia
I have a surprise ouster in the semifinals, as Team USA falters against a dominant Spanish squad. I feel like The Matildas, with the backing of the home crowd, has all it takes for making a World Cup championship run, headlined by superstar Sam Kerr.
That’s going to do it for this edition of my Snippets. Like I said earlier, stay tuned for (potentially) my last MLB Power Rankings for 2023, as many teams are sliding, while others have reached new heights not seen in nearly a decade following the All-Star Break.
Until next time, signing off.